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Stan Wahl: Cabinet Connoisseur

By James Florence, Guest contributor

ROHNERT PARK — As a former remodeling contractor, Stan Wahl used to buy cabinets all the time, until it finally occurred to him to start selling them himself. “I’ve been in construction since high school and spent much of my professional career in residential remodeling—mostly fix-and-flip projects, as well as a few custom homes,” he explains. “Over the years, I purchased a lot of cabinets, and it seemed like a good business to be in. Plus, I always wanted to open a remodeling showroom where contractors could get materials for their projects. That’s basically what I’ve done with Cabinets 101, which has given me the chance to stay involved with the remodeling industry without doing the physical work.”

Today, as owner of Cabinets 101, Stan says his favorite part of his job is interacting with customers. “When you’re installing new cabinets, there are an almost endless number of decisions to make, so I like helping customers navigate that process. I try to set them at ease and make the experience as enjoyable as possible, which I think they really appreciate.”

Originally from Southern California, Stan now lives in Santa Rosa, where he says he appreciates the climate and the people. Outside of work, his favorite activity is winetasting in Sonoma and Napa with his girlfriend, Gerri. He also keeps up with his four grown sons, three of whom live in Sonoma County and one who lives in Alameda County.

In his regard to his professional career, Stan espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “I make sure each client is happy with the end result, even if it means cutting into my profit,” he says. “Even if you lose money on a job, it’s better in the long run to have satisfied clients, because in business there’s nothing more valuable than your reputation.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Stan says he’d see the world. “I’d probably start traveling. I haven’t done a lot of international travel aside from Denmark and Ireland, so there’s still a lot to see. To start, maybe I’d take a trip to the Caribbean.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite winery?

A: I have a few: Nicholson Ranch, Ram’s Gate and Gloria Ferrer, all of which are in Sonoma.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

A: Both—I get up at 5am and go to bed at 11pm.

Q: What’s your favorite kind of food?

A: Hispanic food.

Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?

A: Building toys like Erector Sets, Legos and Lincoln Logs.

Q: What kinds of music do you like?

A: Jazz and oldies.